After operating it for just a couple of years, the city managers have not yet brought a train it purchased in the fiscal year 2008-09 for Lake View Park back on track.

Officers of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Dawn talked to said two trains were purchased for Rs600 million a decade ago, one of which went out of order just a couple of years later.

The out of order train was only made functional in 2015 but developed faults again a few months ago.

It is now parked in the park and no efforts have been made to repair it.

MCI officials said that while it was buying the trains, the CDA had not realised that their engines were not suitable for Pakistan as their spare parts are not available in local markets.

The second train, the Margalla Tourist Train, was the main attraction for those visiting Shakarparian, National Monument, Lok Virsa, Rose and Jasmine Garden and the Pakistan Natural History Museum.

It would take visitors on a tour of these facilities with a fare of Rs10 for children and Rs30 for adults.

Several years ago, the Margalla Tourist Train was moved to the Lake View Park from the Rose and Jasmine Garden as the train procured for the park went out of order.

“The Margalla Tourist Train has a diesel engine and the other one is fitted with batteries, which run out of order,” said Lake View Park Manager Abrar Hussain.

He said the functional train, which is being operated by the Sports and Culture Directorate, has been receiving a good response from tourists.

The city’s parks and their assets were part of the CDA but the park directorate was devolved to the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) after the local government elections. The MCI has also not made the train operational again.

MCI officials said that while it was buying the trains, the CDA had not realised that their engines were not suitable for Pakistan as their spare parts are not available in local markets.

“The one which is running also developed some faults and consumes more diesel,” an MCI official said.

“I am thinking about replacing the battery operated engine with a diesel engine,’ said Parks Director Irfan Niazi.

He said his directorate will soon take steps to make the out-of-order train functional.

“I agree that this is a waste of millions of rupees. I will try to replace the engine with that of a jeep,” he said.

The CDA has made several promises in the past of repairing the train and making it functional.

Tourists in the park also urged the government to ensure the trains are functional as they can provide good entertainment to families in the holidays.

The Lake View Park is the most popular in the city and receives a large number of tourists daily, particularly on the weekends and special holidays such as both the eids, Independence Day and others.

Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2018